Motorcycle race fans force change in pricing in Monterey County, California
While most people realize that when they travel to popular destinations or events they will be charged abit more than usual, it is unfair of places to triple or quadruple their prices during big events. It seems that during the 2005Â Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, some lodging businesses not only raised their prices but sometimes cancelled cheaper reservations for higher paying ones.
Even years later, it seems that it is still fresh in the mind of those that attended and those that host the event. So much a taskforce was established to reduce this unfair price gouging and try to help the average race fans to find lodging.
The task force’s aim is to provide out-of-town visitors, particularly those who come to town for a special event such as the MotoGP race, the Monterey Bay Blues Festival or Big Sur Marathon, with a list of fair and reasonable lodging choices. The group, which includes members from the Big Sur Marathon, Dixieland Monterey, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey Bay Blues Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, California Rodeo Salinas, the Sea Otter Classic and Tri-California Events, sent out applications to 156 area lodgings requesting data on their pricing policies for special event weekends, cancellation policies, amenities, minimum night stay requirements and group rates.
Those that raised rates more than about 20 percent above seasonal rates or required more than three-night stays of customers during special event weekends were excluded from the Preferred Providers list, said Julie Cavassa, of Vincent Guarino Public Relations, which coordinated the process.
This is exactly what should happen in any area where there are “special” events. Even in places like Sturgis where the price of lodging can easily triple or more during the 10 day rally. Bikers are smart and do not like being taken advantage of when it comes to spending the tons of money that they do. Bikers are becoming more vocal and expressing their disfavor with their pocketbooks. Sturgis this year saw a decline in overall revenue and less bikers this year. One has to wonder if it was because bikers are tired of being jacked by high food and lodging costs.
Places like Sturgis, need to take a look at the way that Monterey County is handling this problem and follow their example.
By lowering prices accordingly, I would expect that attendance to these types of events will be up and that people will still spend the same amount of money that they would have. Just instead of the hotels and motels getting all the profits it will be shared throughout businesses and allow bikers to have a better experience wherever they go.
I think that as bikers learn that they can voice their opinions and they can be heard especially when biker events begin to suffer declining attendance.
Anytime any large groups come into towns, they seem to have special pricing and discounts and it is about time places recognize bikers or fans the same benefits.
Source article “Group encourages fair pricing”
Source: www.montereyherald.com
